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Bay 202 - The Tree of Jesse and the Infancy of Christ
(All images © Dr Stuart Whatling)
A1 - Kneeling Donor, Matthew B1 - Signature panels (Drapers) C1 - The donor's wife, Denise A2 - Annunciation to Mary B2 - Jesse Dreaming C2 - Visitation A3 - Annunciation to the Shepherds B3 - Undistinguished royal ancestor of Christ 1 C3 - Nativity A4 - The Three Magi visiting Herod B4 - Undistinguished royal ancestor of Christ 2 C4 - The Three Magi continuing their journey A5 - Adoration of the Magi B5 - The Virgin C5 - The Presentation A6 - Massacre of the Innocents B6 - Christ C6 - The Flight into Egypt D - An angel shows Abraham the ram to sacrifice in Isaac's place E - Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son F - Abraham and Isaac carrying the materials for the sacrifice
Index to panels:
'Donor' panels:
A1 - Kneeling donor, Matthew
B1 - Signature panels (Drapers)
C1 - The donor's wife, Denise

The Infancy of Christ:
A2 - Annunciation to Mary
C2 - Visitation
A3 - Annunciation to the Shepherds
C3 - Nativity
A4 - The Three Magi visiting Herod
C4 - The Three Magi continuing their journey
A5 - Adoration of the Magi
C5 - The Presentation
A6 - Massacre of the Innocents
C6 - The Flight into Egypt

The Tree of Jesse:
B2 - Jesse dreaming
B3 - Undistinguished royal ancestor of Christ 1
B4 - Undistinguished royal ancestor of Christ 2
B5 - The Virgin
B6 - Christ

Upper section - Abraham and Isaac:
F - Abraham and Isaac carrying the materials for the sacrifice
D - An angel shows Abraham the ram to sacrifice in Isaac's place
E - Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son

Overview:
Apart from the donor/signature panels in the lowest register, a Tree of Jesse runs up the central column, whilst the infancy of Christ occupies the outer panels - the story of Christ's incarnation winding its way around the story of his ancestry. As with the other turning bays in the apse, the three oculi in the upper tracery are filled with episodes from an unrelated story - in this case that of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac (a story often paired with Passion scenes, especially the carrying of the Cross, but which has no obvious exegetical correlation to the Infancy of Christ).

The distinctive Tourain palette, with its bold use of light green and yellow glass, is particularly noticeable here. So, unfortunately is some rather clumsy modern re-leading which was done with unusually wide lead cames, disrupting the design and reduces the light transmission which should have been such a feature of these turning bays.